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Belly shots

Last night, my brother and I went for a bike ride, and I roped him into taking a few belly shots. I'm just over 33 weeks (about 7 1/2 months), and I'm so excited to see our baby boy's teeny face in less than two months! I'm so curious about what he'll look like (and if he'll still resemble a Dr. Seuss character). I have to admit, though, I'm getting a little nervous about the actual birth. I alternate between being super calm and being slightly panicky. It makes me feel better that so many mothers have done it before. When I walk around New York, I catch myself staring at strangers and thinking, "You were born, and you were born, and you were born."

Anyway, thank you, as always, for following along! It's such a pleasure to share everything with you. xo

So cute! You look great :) I have two daughters and my lamaze instructor at the time would remind us our bodies are made to give birth. I found that comforting when I felt anxious. Parenthood is the most amazing gift. Blessings to you.

Oh, Joanna you look fantastic! And don't worry - it is not so bad! So many of my good friends told me that before Marc was born and they were right! And then, on the other side, boys are the best - it is so much fun!! ; )

Jo, you look Fabulous... I'm brazilian and I've been following your posts from here... it seems you're so close to me! :) and I keep falling in love with every little thing you write and show us! Thank YOU for sharing all of this with us... :)

These will be so much fun to show him when he's older! =) I know this is a digital world but nothing makes me happier than digging through shoeboxes of old photos from my mother's childhood and years before me and my brother and sisters, so please I beg you print some of these pictures out and stash em in a box!

Your belly is so cute! You are one of my favorite bloggers and it is such a treat that we are pregnant at the same time! xoxo You look amazing! I can't wait to see the pics of your baby when he is born!

I did the same thing when I was pregnant. Every new mom with a baby that I saw, I thought to myself, "She just did it and she's okay." Funny the things we think!

The best advice I can give you (that my doula gave me) is that when you are in labor or giving birth your body knows what to do. Just like when you vomit (funny analogy, but it's true!) You will be in a totally different "zone" than you are in your day to day life.

You look wonderful. I'm right at 26 weeks with my second and can't believe how fast it's going. Good luck to you and you'll do fine with the labor and delivery. Like you said, millions of women have already done it and your body will take care of itself.

cute pics!it is crazy how you start to view the world a little differently, like you said, when you have a child!I remember thinking, so many women have gone through this before, I can do it too! You will be amazed at yourself, and your baby boy, after you give birth! :) Best experience ever. Pain and all.xxo

You will do great! I must admit, although I'm not even with child, the thought of being preggo doesn't scare me..but the actual giving birth part freaks me out! I'm not one for pain lol. But we'll see..I think when the time actually comes for me, I probably get over it. Good luck!

i do the same thing, I am 4 days overdue with my first baby and whenever i get a little nervous about birth I just look around the city and think all of these people were born, they all had mothers, and all those mothers successfully gave birth. It empowers me to know that. Enjoy the last months of pregnancy as when you get to the end like me, the waiting is torture.

Joanna, you're fantastic! You and the belly are looking so healthy and happy. Thank you for sharing with us the mantra you've found to calm your fears about the birth. I'm just sure you'll all do great!

You are such an adorable pregnant woman! Makes me want to be pregnant again too...such a magical time. It's so normal to get panicky about the birth. It's like, wow, this baby is definitely coming out and there's no stopping it at this point...pain ahead! It's a journey, for sure, but a fantastic one that will bring you to the most amazing places with a wonderful prize at the end. You do, indeed, have the collective strength of all the mamas before you as well as your large internet community. Mazel tov!

It's interesting to see a little bit of philosophy peeking through your daily thoughts. The whole "you were born..and you were born" thing made me start look at everyone like that today! When you actually think about it, it's so strange to conceptualize that we all went through this dramatic experience. We were all squeezed, pushed, pulled, rubbed, weighed, examined, and cuddled. But we all forget about it during our daily grind! Thank you. =)

Yes, all those mothers...and think back in the pioneer days when there was probably no doctor within range, much less access to a medical team and all the accoutrements. It seems inconceivable but we were, after all, built to do this!

You're gorgeous! Love your glow and how happy you look! Until now I thought I was the cutest mommy to be but you beat me by far...;)I'm at 38 weeks now and I'm so looking forward to giving birth (at home). I love being pregnant and have been enjoying every single day but I can't wait to have THE experience.You go girl! You'll do just fine.

less than 2 months! how exciting! yeah the whole part of finally getting to see what the baby looks like must be an awesome feeling. i don't have kids yet, but when i think about when my fiance and i do have a kid (or two!) the thought that this lil person is like two people morphed into one is just mind-blowing! :)

your so cute! You will be a wonderful mother. I had to laugh imagining you walking down the street saying "you were born" to strangers. When I get fearful of birth, I remind myself that it is what my body was made for, to create life. Best of luck, relish these last couple weeks.

You look amazing and joyful. I think you and the other crispytart are due around the same time and both having boys:) I know advice from a non-mom is probably mute, but when naturally nervous about the birth, maybe switch focus to all the exciting things you'll experience in the years to come? Then the birth is just an easy, natural part of a bigger plan? The mom's are probably rolling their eyes at me and saying, "Wait til you do it, lady." Lol. Just a thought:)

bahahahaha- i don't know why my mind works like this, but when i read belly shots, i thought you meant-like, sleazy-style belly shots. like actual shots that whorish girls in rhinestone spandex tops do at bars. i was super confused as to how this nice brother-sister bike ride turned into a raucous night of drinking. i understand now. thank god.

Oh, whenever I'm stressed about something, I do that too! I look at strangers and think, "YOU'VE interviewed and got a job/graduated college and survived/rented an apartment/gone on a first date..." Whatever it is, it makes me realize I can do it too! :)

I wish I had looked so cute when I was pregnant! Seriously, you are super adorable! You'll do great in labor, I was incredibly scared but made it through. You will amaze yourself, one second you think you can't do it and then the next you are this brave/determined person you've never known before.

Just remember to take it one step at a time, don't think/worry about what comes next and how you will handle it. Just cross one bridge at a time and once you get there, it won't be as bad as you had pictured it being all along. Promise! :)

You look fabulous! I wish I had looked this good 7 1/2 months pregnant! I was totally freaked out when I was pregnant worrying about my labor and delivery...I hate feeling unprepared and I hate the unknown. I was induced so I knew 24 hours in advance when I was going to have her..Which gave me 24 more hours to worry! But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! I had her 4 weeks ago today and I can't wait to have baby no. 2!! If I can do it (the world's biggest wimp!) I have no doubts you can handle it!

You look so amazing!! Don't be nervous...I think it's natural for us to be afraid of things we have yet to experience. Think of how cool it will be to experience giving birth something that not everyone has done or gets to do in their life!

You look awesome, so fresh and happy. When you find yourself getting nervous, try some relaxing breathing and tell yourself it's not happening yet, so why worry about something that is a few weeks away.

You look stunning Joanna! Thank you for sharing your pregnancy with us. I've never had a kiddie yet, but my clock is ticking like mad and am too, a bit fearful about the actual physical part of labor. You'll do wonderfully I'm positive!! :) xo

And, 3) Nature has a way of making sure that you are so miserable at the end of pregnancy that labor and delivery seem like a blessing. Screams of, "Get it out, get it out, get it out" the day before I delivered come to mind.

I know it! It seemed like everything was magnified when I was pregnant. Especially your thoughts and analyzation ... like how everyone was "born." And I remember being genuinely stunned at how absolutely AMAZING women are to be able to carry and grow little humans. But not only that but how our bodies can go back to normal afterwards! I think I talked about that for 3-4 weeks straight after giving birth:) I guess it just hits home more when you're the one being amazing!

I'm just over 33 weeks along with our first (a boy!) as well. I know what you mean about alternating between excited and panicky. We had our first childbirth class the other night, and I definitely had a moment of terror when I sat down in the classroom, like "this is really happening!"

You look amazing!! And so happy!!! Enjoy the last few weeks, they'll go by fast I bet.As far as birth, having not done it myself I can only say what I have heard other wise mamas say about it: just trust yourself and your body, whatever you want to do in that moment is the right thing to do. But really who wouldn't be nervous? It is such a huge, hard and beautiful thing you are doing!!Thanks for sharing it all with us!

You look wonderful! And for me, giving birth felt wonderfully constructive. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but after being sick for 9 months with each of my kids, giving birth felt like I was actually doing something!Plus, you will be surrounded by experts who will make you feel comfortable and secure. :)

You look great! I am 34 wks today so we are almost exactly at the same point! But this is my second (a boy too!) and I am bigger this time around hahaha.

It's natural to be nervous about birth especially with the way our culture has medicalized it all. I highly recommend the book Hypnobirthing. It's great and there is a calming meditative/relaxation CD that is great practice and preparation.

We hired a doula this time around which I am hoping will help with having a more positive supportive birth! Good luck! xx

i was so terrified of giving birth. and the same thing...kept on thinking, sooooo many women do it! and a lot of times they do it again, and again...and sometimes again! there's nothing to prepare you for it, so you pretty much have to go with the flow and know that things will be okay. then the fun really begins.

ha ha ha! and then you get a kid like mine who says 100xs a day 'member when i was bor-n'... so you see, your current repetition never really goes away.

labor? yeah... it's wild. you will love it and hate it and you will be brave and scared and you will go with it and you will fight it... but it in the end you will have the most beautiful and wonderful being in your arms... and then the parenting begins (and you will love it, hate it, you will be brave... you get the idea)

Joanna, you look awesome and you'll do just fine during childbirth! Just remember to trust your body and that it completely knows what to do...check out this silly thing I wrote for my pregnant friend - mostly for the lovely words of advice other mamas left in the comments...http://myprettymommy.blogspot.com/2009/12/letter-to-new-mamas.htmlall the best!!

such an exciting time for you!! I remember feeling the same way as I approached that time period in my first pregnancy. Cherish each and every moment and really don't think about the birth process, just think about seeing your baby and holding him :-)

You know that you have the power to grow this perfect human being inside you for nine months (while riding a bike around NYC, at that!). Trust that you have the power to bring him into the world -- because you absolutely do.

I've had two babies and I still marvel that I am capable of pregnancy of childbirth! What a marvelous, glorious, magical, mystery. As women we are so lucky to be able to experience the miracle of bringing life into the world.

Still, I know how scary it is to be where you are now, wondering how it will go, and that is SO OK ;) I have done the exact same thing, looking at people on the subway and noting that they all had to have been BORN. Motherhood is amazing, the way it gives you perspective.

Oh Joanna. I love the "you were born. you were born" ... i get that sentiment so much and I've never been pregnant. It's incredible to think that we were all living inside someone else for part of our lives. it blows. my. mind.

I gave birth. The labor is actually hard, you know, but you have to keep thinking that it's going to end soon, and then it's gone! and the reward is the most incredibly beautiful thing on earth, so it's definitely worth while.

you look fabulous! no reason to worry!your body will do all the right things to make your baby boy arrive on schedule and healthfully. it is pretty phenomenal what our bodies are made to do and how natural it all comes.good luck with everything and trust yourself to get yourself through it:)

You look amazing! The first thought that came into my head was "full of life"! Ha ha! That is exactly what you are, now isn't it? And don't worry too much, babies are very smart, he will tell you what he needs, all you have to do is listen. This picture also makes me wish I was in NYC riding my bike to a glass of wine at Taralucci i Vino in the East Village.

You are so lovely and positively glowing!! Your little guy is going to be such a proud little fella when he grows up, sees these pics and realizes that he's the reason his mommy is smiling so brightly!!Two months...? How exciting!! :)

You look great! I love following along knowing that we're due at just the same time! I recently had the same birth freak-out. Even changed my doctors and wrote about it here: http://happinessisrealwhenshared.blogspot.com/2010/04/birth.html After writing that, every other mom I know emailed/called/reached out to me to let me know it happened to them, too.

And I remind myself that everyone was born, too. And another comfort: if Britney Spears could do it, so can I. Weird, maybe, but it helps. :)

dont worry about the birth just catch upi on your sleep now because once baby is gone sleep becomes a distant memory LOL I should know mine are 10 mths and I forgot what sleep is the dark circles under my eyes are ridiculous